Mary Magdalene (Keller) Schmaltz

July 31, 1916-June 16, 2014

June 19, 2014

Mary Magdalene (Keller) Schmaltz, 97, of Rugby, died Monday, June 16, 2014, at the Heart of America Care Center in Rugby, surrounded by members of her family.

Mary was born July 31, 1916, in the Karlsruhe home of her parents, Anton and Elizabeth (Abel) Keller, and was raised and educated there. She was united in marriage to Peter P. Schmaltz on Oct. 5, 1937, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Karlsruhe. Following their marriage, Mary and Peter made their home on a farm north of Rugby, where they raised their family of eight children and farmed. In 1974, the couple moved into Rugby.

A loving wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker, Mary worked outside the home at the Good Samaritan Hospital, Rugby, as a CNA. She retired 24 years later and she and Peter then enjoyed doing home daycare for the next 10 years. Mary, a very devout and prayerful person, was a member of Little Flower Catholic Church, Rugby, and the Confraternity of Christian Mothers. She enjoyed crocheting, gardening and being with her family. Peter died Feb. 15, 2001, and Mary remained in her own home until December 2013 when she moved to the care center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be: Saturday, June 21, at 11 a.m. at the Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby with burial in the church cemetery. Fr. Tom Graner, Celebrant.

Visitation will be: Friday, June 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. with a rosary and vigil prayer service at 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 to 10:30 a.m., all in Anderson Funeral Home, Rugby. There will be no reviewal in the church.